Float valve with air cut-off



Oct. 12, 1965 G. E. WHITE FLOAT VALVE WITH AIR CUT-OFF 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 12, 1962 a ffff ATTY.

Oct. l2, 1965 G. E. WHITE FLOAT VALVE WITH AIR CUT-OFF 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Deo. l2, 1962 United States Patent O 3,211,170 FLOAT VALVE WITH AIR CUT-OFF Gerald E. White, 121 SE. 12th St., Pompano Beach, Fla. Filed Dec. 12, 1962, Ser. No. 244,051) 4 Claims. (Cl. 137-391) This invention relates to the construction of valves used 4to control the liquid level in a tank. Float-operated devices are well known in this `iield, and this invention is associated with such a mechanism. Water-softening equipment commonly presents the problem of establishing a maximum water level in a brine tank, while permitting the brine to be withdrawn under vacuum conditions. If the brine is withdrawn to the point that the level reaches the port of the control valve, continued suction will pull air into the line. 'Ibis is not only undesirable in itself, but causes oxidation of the iron ions associated with the mass of water-softening material. The oxidized ion becomes a precipitate, and presents a iiushing problem. It is desirable to cut off the yflow out of the brine tank before the liquid level falls below the valve port, and thus eliminate the oxidation. The control valve should therefore establish both a maximum and a minimum liquid level. A device for performing this general function is shown in the United States Patent No. 2,716,422.

The present invention provides the general double-valve function in a structure that maintains positive float and valve alignment, and is readily adaptable to the molding of many of the components in plastic materials. The several features of the invention will be analyzed in further detail through a discussion of the particular embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional elevation of a conventional brine tank controlled by a valve embodying the present invention, the valve being in position to stop further flow into the tank.

FIGURE 2 is a section-al elevation of the valve mechanism alone, on a somewhat enlarged scale over that of FIGURE l, illustrating the valve in an intermediate position as the liquid is being withdrawn from the tank under vacuum conditions in the water softener.

FIGURE 3 is a section on the same 'mechanism shown in FIGURE 2, showing the position ofthe valve for blocking `further ow out of the tank, and thus establishing the minimum liquid level.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view showing the valve assembly in the FIGURE 1 position.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the brine tank is provided with a cover 11, and with a wooden structure -12 functioning as a platform to support 'the salt blocks '13 and :14 at a predetermined distance from the bottom 15 of the tank. For most eiiicient operation of the system, the distance of the liquid level 16 above the top of the platform structure 12 should be held to a minimum, thus exposing a uniform face of the salt block to the incoming fresh water for generation of the brine. The drawing shows considerably more exposure to the lsalt block than is recommended, and is exaggerated for purposes of illustration. After the liquid in the tank has been exposed to the salt block for a comparatively short time, a brine solution is produced which is withdrawn during the regeneration cycle of the water-softener system. The subjection of the mass of ion exchange material in the water softener to the ow yof brine will prepare the mass for a further period of normal functioning. ."Ihe conduit 17 leads from the control valve mechanism generally indicated at 18 to the water softening device (not shown), which forms no part of the present invention.

The valve tnechanism v18 is surrounded by a protective housing 19 having openings a-s shown at 20 and 21 in FIG-URE l communicating with the interior of the tank 10. A ibase 22 is preferably provided with a flange 23 adjacent the periphery for locating the housing '19 with respect to the valve structure. The ange 23 may either be molded integrally with the base 22, or secured to it. The Ibase 22 is also provided with a central boss 24 for engaging and positioning the body 25 of the valve. A chamber 26 is defined by the valve body 25, and communicates wit-h the conduit 17 at the connection 27. A passage 28 extends upwardly from the chamber 26, and may 'be blocked by the valve member '.29 ycarried on the rod 30. A conical guiding member 31 provides for the alignment of the valve member 29 with respect to the lower extremity of the passage 28. A bearing portion 32 at the upper extremity of the body 25 slidably receives the rod 30, and maintains the axial alignment of it with respect to the assembly. Liquid moving to and from the chamber 26 will traverse the passage 28, and the radiallyextending ports 33, which are disposed above the shoulder 34. This shoulder is preferably provided by a gasket supported by an olfset in the body portion 25 of the valve.

In the position vshown in FIGURE 1, the liquid level 16 has risen to the permitted maximum. T-he oat 35 has a central portion 436 providing a recess 37 which is disposed to receive the bearing portion 32 of the body of the valve when the float is in the extreme down position shown in FIGURE 3. The conical exterior surface of the bearing portion 32 facilitates the entry into the recess 37. The central portion 36 of the oat also contains a bearing portion l38 for slidably receiving the valve rod 30. An end-tting 39 has preferably threaded engagement with the end of the rod 30, ,and provides a limit to the sliding movement of the float with respect to the rod. The result is a lost-motion connection permitting considerably more vertical movement of the float than the rod 30 is capable of. A tubular housing 40 is engaged with the bearing section 38 to seal -of the interior `of the float 35, and a cap 41 is preferably sealed to the end of the housing to complete the closure. A seal at the juncture of the tubular housing 40 with the top 42 of the oat is also recommended.

As the liquid is progressively withdrawn from the tank 10, the float 35 moves downward through the intermediate position shown in FIGURE 2 to the lower position shown in FIGURE 3. At this time, the annular ridge 43 at the lower extremity of the float contacts the shoulder 34 to create a seal. Continued application of suction in the line 17 will produce increased pressure at the shoulder 34, and this arrangement has the effect of closing oif the ow moving through the radial ports 33. The lost-motion connection referred to above will permit the oat to move down into the FIGURE 3 position, with the end-fitting 39 moving up into the space defined by the tubular housing 40. The liquid level 16 is still above the ports 33 in the FIGURE 3 position, thereby preventing the ingress of air into the line 17.

The particular embodiments of the present invention which have been illustrated and discussed herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be considered as a limitation upon the scope of the appended claims. In these claims, it is my intent to claim the entire invention disclosed herein, except as I am limited by the prior art.

I claim:

1. A valve mechanism, comprising:

a body portion having an inlet communicating with a chamber, and having a normally vertical passage in the top of said chamber, said body portion having an extension tapering iupward to 'reduced diameter surrounding said passage and an external shoulder surrounding said extension, and also having radial a rod slidably mounted in said extension, and having a valve member disposed in said chamber and engageable with said body portion to block the opening, said extension maintaining said rod in axial alignment therewith,

a stop at the upper extremity of said rod, and

float slidably mounted on said rod above said body portion, said float having a recess in the bottom thereof for receiving said extension, said exterior shoulder including a gasket engageable with the underside of said oat to seal oi said ports on lowering said oat.

A valve mechanism, comprising:

body portion having an inlet communicating with a chamber, and having a normally vertical passage in the top of said chamber, said body portion having an extension tapering upward to reduced diameter surrounding said passage and an external shoulder surrounding said extension, and also having radial ports disposed above said exterior shoulder communicating with said passage,

rod slidably mounted in said extension, and having a valve member disposed in said chamber and engagevable with said body portion to block the opening in said passage, said extension maintaining said rod in axial alignment therewith, and

a float slidably mounted on said rod for limited movement with respect thereto above said body portion, said oat having la recess in the bottom thereof for receiving said extension, said exterior shoulder including a gasket engageable with the underside of said float to seal oi said ports on lowering said lio-at.

. A valve mechanism, comprising:

a oat slidably mounted on said rod for limited movement with respect thereto above said body portion, said oat having a recess in the bottom thereof for receiving said extension, said exterior shoulder including a gasket engageable with the underside of said oat to seal olir said ports on lowering said float.

A valve mechanism, comprising:

body portion having an inlet communicating with a chamber, and having a normally vertical passage in the top of said chamber, said body portion having an extension surrounding said passage and an external shoulder surrounding said extension, and also having ports disposed above said exterior shoulder communicating with said passage,

rod slidably mounted in said extension, and having a valve member disposed in said chamber andengageable with said body portion to block the opening in said passage, said extension maintaining said rod in axial alignment therewith, and

.a oat secured to said rod above said body portion said oat having a recess in the bottom thereof for receiving said extension, a portion of said oat being engageable with said shoulder to block ow through said ports.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/63 Tischler et al. 137-391 X 6/63 Thompson 137-391 X WILLIAM F. ODEA, Primary Examiner.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Examiner. 

4. A VALVE MECHANISM, COMPRISING: A BODY PORTION HAVING AN INLET COMMUNICATING WITH A CHAMBER, AND A HAVING A NORMALLY VERTICAL PASSAGE IN THE TOP OF SAID CHAMBER, SAID BODY PORTION HAVING AN EXTENSION SURROUNDING SAID PASSAGE AND IN EXTERNAL SHOULDER SURROUNDING SAID EXTENSION, AND ALSO HAVING PORTS DISPOSED ABOVE SAID EXTERIOR SHOULDER COMMUNICATING WITH SAID PASSAGE, A ROD SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID EXTENSION, AND HAVING A VALVE MEMBER DISPOSED IN SAID CHAMBER AND ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID BODY PORTION TO BLOCK THE OPENING IN SAID PASSAGE, SAID EXTENSION MAINTAINING SAID ROD IN AXIAL ALIGNMENT THEREWITH, AND A FLOAT SECURED TO SAID ROD ABOVE SAID BODY PORTION, SAID FLOAT HAVING A RECESS IN THE BOTTOM THEREOF FOR RECEIVING SAID EXTENSION, A PORTION OF SAID FLOAT BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID SHOULDER TO BLOCK FLOW THROUGH SAID PORTS. 